Guten Tag!

It’s Spring time! Time for the Frṻhlingsfest! So many events coming up this month. A Maifest is one of the oldest German springtime rituals.  However, it is now a colorful, joyous part of history and culture here in Missouri too!

The custom of the Maibaum or Maypole began in the tenth century, when villagers would erect a pole in the local square. They would decorate it with sausages, cakes and multicolored ribbons! The villagers would dance around the maypole, as medieval citizens believed that it would bring good luck and wealth! A related century-old tradition is the robbery of trees from April 30 to May 1 – the same night of Walpurgisnacht (witches night) celebrated with bonfires, lots of beer and dancing. In the Rhineland, however, the Maibaum is such a coveted object of desire signifying love and yearning it often motivates nightly raids by mischievous tree thieves. Every year on April 30th, young men in their late teens and twenties walk to a nearby forest to cut birch trees and decorate them with colorful crepe garlands, and a poem inscribed with the name of their beloved onto piece of wood. With the help of some friends, they will affix the tree alongside the house of a young Fräulein – most often their girl friend or love interest.

Another Annual tradition is the Saint Charles County German Heritage Society ‘s ANNUAL MAIFEST DINNER on Sunday, May 6, 2018 at 1:00 PM at the Mother In Law House at 500 South Main Street in historic St. Charles, Missouri.  Join us for a bit of German in historic St. Charles as we celebrate everything German in St. Charles County and spring! Everyone is welcome, you do not have to be a member to join us!  For dinner reservations or information please call or text 636-221-1524. Credit Cards Accepted. Reservations need to be made no later than May 3! 

Make reservations here!

You won’t want to miss the first St. Charles County Midwest Maifest which benefits the St. Charles-Ludwigsburg Sister Cities Exchange to be held in Legacy Park in Cottleville! On May 12 from 1-5 pm., enjoy Live Music and Entertainment, Craft Breweries, wineries, Spirit Distilleries and food. Plan now on enjoying the first of another (hopefully) annual German event in St. Charles County! For more information visit MidwestMaifest.org today.

And since a true German can never have enough Maifests – Can you tell we like to  coordinate these things? Join us for the German Cultural Society of St. Louis’ Maifest on May 19 and May 20 in beautiful Donau Park at 6020 West Four Ridge Road in Jefferson County. This is an annual event to and where all the Germans in St. Louis enjoy the best German food, beer and music. A true German event!

We would also like to remind you of the German School Association’s early enrollment going on now! Best place to learn, refresh or expand your German in St. Louis! See https://www.germanschoolstl.org/index.html for more information!

We have a German School looking to partner and exchange with a Missouri school that is anxious to meet you! If you are interested please contact MissouriGermans@gmail.com right away!

See you at the Maifest!

Dorris Keeven-Franke, Executive Director

Missouri Germans Consortium www.mo-germans.com

Call or text: 636-221-1524